Compressing apparatus.



L N. WOOD. COMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 29, 1915- RENEWED JAN. 4.1917.- 1,%29,568

Patented June 12, 1917. Q Q Rm n4 NONE/S Parsras m. Pnumumou msnmamu. D c

COMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, I915. RENEWED IAN. 4.1917.

N. WOOD Patented June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2. 5

Shim/W01 J. N. WOOD.

COMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR, 29. 19:5. RENEWED JAN. 4.1917.

1 ,QQQ, q. Patented J une 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- w my J. N. WOOD.

COMPRESSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR-29.1915- RENEWED JAN. 4.1917.

Patented June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l ll I J. N. WOOD.

CQMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1915. RENEWED JAN. 4.1917.

1 ,9,563 Patented. June 12, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

JAMES N. WOOD, OF BLAOKSHEAR, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WOOD CONCENTRATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA."

GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application filed March 29, 1915, Serial No. 17,838. Renewed January 4, 1917. Serial No. 140,649.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Janus N. 000, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blackshear, in the county of Pierce and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressing rlpparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel method and construction hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed inthe following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings,

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved baling press. 4

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4. is an end elevation of the opposite end to that shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is a transverse verticalsectional view."

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the plunger operating carriage.

Fig. '7 is a detail showing the plunger operating carriage and a portion of the uprights on one plunger, with which it is in enga gement.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the means for moving the rack to which the plunger operating carriage is connected.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow A in said figure.

Fig. 10 is a detail showing the means for retaining the plungers aftertliey have been depressed by the operating carriage and also the means for disengaging the retainrural inland districts and are without fa' cilities for forming such a compact or dense bale as is required for fore gn shipment of the staple, or for economic shipment generally. Such large loose bales are ordinarily shipped to the nearest point (usually at the seaboard) where a recompressing plant is located and the bales are there recompressed by huge hydraulic presses, under great pressure, to bring them to the size and density required for shipment abroad.

Oneobjeet of my invention is to provide a. compressing apparatus of moderate size which can be installed at a comparatively. small expense at the various cotton gins, and operated with a comparatively small expenditure of power, so that the cotton may be taken from the gin and immediately and finally compressed into a bale of the required or desired density for either foreign, or domestic shipment, thus avoiding the necessity of recompressing the bales at any time or for any purpose, and effecting a saving of the expense and delay incident to the, recompressing of the bales, as required under the present system.

A further object, which I have in view, is to provide a mechanism for the above purpose which may be used in connection with the ordinary press, certain parts of which may be removed and replaced by my construction.

It may be here noted that in compressing apparatusheretofore used, it has been contemplated to employ a single plunger for pressing the bale at one stroke and corisequently requiring an enormous amount of pressure to reduce the bale to the required density. To avoid the necessity of this enormous pressure and to obviate the employment of heavy parts in the construction and at the same time to provide simple con- (lensing power, I employ, instead of the single plunger, a multiplicity of plungers, each plunger being adapted to operate upon a small area of the bale and to compress said areas consecutively.

For example; to compress a bale to a density of thirty-four (3%) pounds to the cubic foot requires a pressure-per square inch, on the upper surface of the bale of two hundred and fifty-four (254) pounds or thirty-six thousand, five hundred and seventy-six (36,576) pounds per square foo-t Now, where a single plunger is utilized and pressure exerted over the entire upper surface of the bale, which is twenty-seven inches inches (27 or eighty-one (81) square inch I total pressing surface, I have a total load on each plunger at one operation (for thirtyfour (34:) pounds density) of twenty thousand, five hundred and seventy-four (20,574) pounds. This pressure is never increased owing to the method I employ, which is to first operate one plunger by said pressure, forcing said plunger downwardly a predetermined distance at which point it is auto- 7 matically retained by means independent i of the operating means, the other plungers being operated and held consecutively in the same manner throughout one cycle, a new cycle beginning as the preceding cycle ends.

It isalso obvious in the old construction having the single plunger, where all of the power is applied at 'once and the bale compressed at one stroke of, the plunger, that the resistance comprises not only the amount of pressure necessary to compress the cotton but also the extra power arising from the back pressure of the cotton itself.

In my improved construction, wherein pressure is applied gradually, a considerable part of the energy of the cotton becomes latent, that is, this energy is absorbed by the cotton fiber and ceases to react.

To amplify this idea, I may state that in that systemof compression in which a bale is formed by pressing a strip or bat of cotton by means of rollers, belts or chains and retaining the accumulating pressure as the. bale increases in depth, there is a constant increase in the working load owing to the fact that the entire mass of live cotton is pressing back against the pressing means as the successive layers are added. No construction has ever been shown prior 'to that embraced in the description hereto attached in which this back pressure has not been present in. some form. By the method I am about to describe the back pressure of y the cotton considered as a mass absolutely disappears. The application of a unit pressure to a unit area is always entirely independent of the other areas, (that is, to those areas to which pressure has been previously applied). The accomplishment of this object eliminates a working load comparable to a high ratio of internal work in a machine and makes the compressing method I employ one of extreme mechanical efficiency.

beams may be arranged as desired.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, in which a bale having a density of thirty (30) pounds and over, per cubic foot, can be readily obtained, the construction ofthe apparatus being such that it can be economically erected and operated at ginning stations in the cotton raising districts throughout the country. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the main supporting beams which support the apparatus, and which are preferably I beams of iron or steel and rest upon a suitable fiat surface, or they may be the same beams which extend over the hydrauliccylinder pit of the presses now in use, Between the beams A are located a pair of connecting plates B whichspace said I beams. If my device is to be applied to the'old hydraulic press having a pit, these beams A arearranged a sufficient distance apart to allow the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) to be accommodated between them, but if it is to be installed where no hydraulic cylinder pit has been in service, the These beams and their connecting plates are all bolted together and'form a heavy and rigid framing for supporting the parts of the press.

Extending'upwardly from the beams at one end of the machine and suitably connected to the same are a plurality of channel bars G which are connected together by means of plates 0 and 0 and carry at their upper ends the right extremities of a plu-' rality of I beams, D to which they are connected by means of bolts CL. The opposite 'wardly through a block G which rests upon the beams A and'is secured to said beams by any suitable means.

The sleeve F is adapted also to support and act as a. fulcrum for the ordinary rotatable double bale box (not shown) which after having the bale that is carried by the receptacle on the press side compressed, is turned upon its pivot to the opposite side of the shaft, for the purpose of removing the compressed bale and to bring the opposite receptacle containing the unpressed cotton into operative position beneath the press. c r Q The lower platen or abutment H of the press preferably comprises a number of I.- beams 7t and two outer channel bars It, all of which are connected together by means of connecting plates h which are arranged at the top and bottom of said platen. It will be obvious that this platen might be directly secured to the supporting beams A if the device was to be installed where no press had previously been located, but in the form I have illustrated this platen is the plunger platen of the ordinary hydraulic type. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated, this ordinary platen H is provided on one end with a keeper or yoke 7 and also intermediate its ends with another keeper 7L3 and a bolt h is slidinglv carried by said keepers. A locking part if for said bolts is slidingly mounted between the connecting plates 0 and c of the channel uprigltits G. Rotatably mounted between said uprights C is a shaft /1 which has an extension projecting beyond the outer surface of the uprights C and provided with a rigidly connected operating handle If. This shaft h is rigidly connected to the upper ends of a plurality of downwardly projecting levers it whose other ends are forked, as shown at h", to engage a pin it carried by the locking part The bolt h is provided with a notch h and the looking part 71 is provided with a stud 71 In connecting my device to the ordinary pit type of press, the platen H is raised above the pit by means of hydraulic power which acts upon the lower end of the platen rod (not shown). \Vhen the platen H has been elevated a sufficient distance, the keepers it, h and bolt b are applied to the under side thereof, the bolt being so positioned that the notch it extends beyond the left end of the platen. The plunger is then elevated a little higher to bring the notch h into engagement with the pin h upon the locking part it", which at this time has been placed in proper position by the operator, through the means described, to insure the engagement of the notch with the pin. Then the handle k is moved toward the left to bring the locking part 715 beneath the left end of the platen andthe right end of the bolt 76* over the block G. The plunger then remains stationary in this position to act as the lower platen of the press. Where the plunger of the ordinary pit type hydraulic press is used as the platen or abutment of my improved press, I may obtain an initial pressure upon the material to be baled, by moving said plunger (or platen H) toward the multiple plunger-s of my improved press, and this is accomplished by the same power which ordinarily lifts the plunger of said hydraulic press.

The means for operating the plunger actuating device comprise a pair of shafts J which extend between the beams D and upon which are freely mounted for rotatable movement, bell crank levers j, j, one of which has one of its arms. longer than the tending substantially horizontally and its shorter arm extending vertically. Supports j have their lower ends pivotally con nected to the horizontally extending arms of the bell crank levers and their upper ends rigidly secured to an I-beam K by means of bolts 7' This beam K is vertically movable in guides I: which are carried by plates that rest upon the upper part of and con nect the beams D, and said guides are recessed vertically to engage the vertical porti ons of the ends of the beam K and thereby guide said beam. A. link L extends between the bell crank levers and has one of its ends pivotally connected to the vertical arm of the bell crank lever y' and its other end pivotally connected to the downwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever j. It will be seen from the foregoing that by oscillating the long arm 7' of the bell crank lever j vertically, the I-beam K through its connection with the bell crank levers, will be reciprocated vertically.

The means for moving the outer end of the arm 7' downwardly comprises a steam actuated mechanism which will now be described. Mounted upon the tops of the beams D are supports M which carry a steam cylinder m, having a piston m to which is connected a piston rod m which extends through an aperture in the bottom of the steam cylinder and is pivotally connected near its lower end to the outer end of the arm 7' by means of a pin m The steam cylinder is provided on one side with a valve casing m having a steam supply opening m and communicating with the interior of the steam cylinder by means of a duct m. A slide valve m is mounted in said casing and a valve stem at is connected to said valve and is guided by a bearing m in the lower end of the casing and by a bearing m carried by the beams D. The valve stem m is made in two parts which are connected by means of a nut m whereby adjustment in said rod may be had. Freely mounted upon a shaft m supported by the beams D, is a lever m which has a forked end m to engage a pin m upon the stem m and diametrically opposite said forked end is a projection m, which is adapted to be intermittently engaged by lugs m and m provided upon the piston rod m An opening m is provided in the bottom of the cylinder to allow air beneath the piston to escape.

In operating the steam engine to actuate the arm j of the bell crank lever j, steam under pressure is admitted through the aperture m to the valve casing m", from which it passes through the duct m to the upper part of the steam cylinder. As the piston moves downwardly, its rod forces down the outer end of the lever arm j When the piston has arrived near the lower haust through the channel m of the valvev into a conduit m, that leads to the atmos phere. I

An arm m is rigidly connected to the lever arm j and has its outer end connected to a rope 771 which extends upwardly and over a pulley m and carries a weight m When the valve M has been placed in exhaust position this weight raises the piston and causes the projection mm to rock the lever m in the opposite direction and again open the valve to allow steam to enter the cylinder. I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to this specific form of power plant but may use any kind of a device which will suit my purpose.

The plunger operating means comprises a carriage N which is moved along the beam K, in a manner hereinafter described, to consecutively engage the series of plungers,

reference to which will be made hereafter.

This carriage N as best shown in Fig. 7, consists of'a U-shaped frame a, which is mount- 3 ed upon andis adapted to travel longitudinally of the lower flanges n of the beam K. The frame a carries on each lateral side thereof an upper bearing n and lower bearing 12 which slidingly carry a pair of pawls a each of which has downwardly project- Studs a project outwardly D and said rack is provided at one end, with a plurality of inwardly directed pro jections 0 which loosely engage the lower part of the carriage frame a and permit said carriage to move vertically. The rack O is engaged and operated by gear 0 as best shown in Fig. 8, which is rigidly mounted upon a shaft carried in suit-able bearings above the beams D, and is in turn operated by means of a double pawl 0* carried by a lever 0 that is rotatably mounted upon the same shaft as the gear 0 and is connected with the arm j of the bell crank lever j'loy a link 0, said link being pivotally connected to both the lever '0 and the arm The double pawl 0* consists of an inverted T-shaped plate, which is pivot ally connected to the lever 0 at 0 and carries at certain ofits extremities, the teeth 0 0 each of which when in operating position, is adapted to slide over the teeth of the gear when the lever 0 is moved in one direction and engage the teeth of the gear when the lever is moved 111 the opposite direction. Near the upper end of said pawl 0 and on the rear side thereof is a pin 0 which is adapted to be engaged by the notches 0 0 of a pivoted latch 0 on the lever 0 wardly, at the beginning ofthe operation of by the carriage N, strikes the upper end of the double pawl 0 causing it-to rock on its pivot 0 and moving the pin 0 out of the outermost notch 0 and into the inner notch 0 of the latch 0 .v 'This movement also operative position relative to the teeth of said gear 0 Then the rack is operated in the opposite direction in a manner which will be obvious.

It will be noted at this pointthat the double pawl 0 is mounted directly above the rack O and is never brought downwardly a suficient distance to strikesaid rack for the reason that this would cause the pawl to be rocked onits pivot 0- and reverse the direction of travel of the carriage N. However, when the carriage N has been moved to its extreme right position and itis desirable to reverse it, a vertical standard 0 which is provided upon the left end of the rack O and extends upwardly, blocks the stroke of the double pawl 0 and reverses the same. This insures the carriage being moved in the opposite direction.

A number of plungers- P, as heretofore mentioned, are'provided for pressing the cotton and each of these plungers comprises two uprights p, one of which is provided on eachside' of the machine. The'plunger uprights of each plunger are connected near their lower ends to a transverse channel bar 29' by means of angle irons 39 the lower surface of the channel bar and the lower ends of the uprights acting as the pressing face'ofthe plunger. The upper ends of the uprights are connected by rods 29 Bearing plates 39* extend across the upper surface of the beams D, and the uprights 39 When the link 0 is moved downpressing, wlth the carriage N at the extreme -causes the tooth 0 to be moved away from the gear 0 and the tooth 0 to be moved into of the plungers pass through the outer ends of said plates and are vertically guided thereby. The uprights of the consecutive plungers are engaged by the pawls n of the carriag N and are moved downwardly with said carriage.

Channel bars R are secured to the outer sides of the beams D by means of bolts r and these parts act as bearings for retaining means r which grasp said plunger uprights 7) and retain them after they have been forced downwardly by the carriage N. Each of these retaining means 9 there being one for each plunger upright, comprises a vertical part r carrying horizontal portions r which are adapted to slide laterally on the bars R and vertical extensions Between the extensions 7* and the beams D, springs r are mounted and have a tendency to force said retaining plates 7 toward said plunger uprights. The vertical parts 9* are also provided on their outer surfaces with up wardly directed teeth, which engage said plunger uprights in a manner heretofore described.

The mechanism for releasing said retaining means to allow the plungers to rise comprises longitudinally extending shafts S mounted in bearings 8 upon the beams D and connected for joint movement by levers s, 3 and a connecting rod .9 the lever 3 extending upwardly and the lever s extending downwardly. Each of the retaining means carries a plurality of nose pieces 3* which are adapted to be engaged by cams s rigidly carried by said shafts S. Assuming that the carriage N is in its extreme left position and that th plungers are depressed and it is desired to raise them, a bar (not shown) is inserted in the recess 8 of a handle 3 carried by one of said shafts S and turned to cause said cams s to force said nose pieces s inwardly and with the nose pieces their integrally connected retaining plates, whereby said plungers are released. Weights s are provided for elevating these plungers and these weights are connected with ropes s. which pass over pulleys s and are connected to the rods 12 of the plungers.

The operation of my improved press is as follows: Assuming that the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the bale box, heretofore mentioned, carrying a partly compressed bale, resting upon the platen H and beneath the plungers, steam is admitted to the steam cylinder m to cause the piston 122 through its piston rod m to depress the lever arm y": This causes the bell crank levers j and j" to move the beam K downwardly. When the lug m on the piston rod strikes the lever m, said lever will operate the valve stem m to close the inlet m to the cylinder m and permit the steam to exhaust. The weight m will then raise the lever armj and cause the double pawl 0* through the link 0 to operate the gear 0 and move theirack to the left until the pawls n of tlie carriage N come into engagement with the teeth of the first plunger on the right. The pawls a then being in engagement with the first plunger and steam being again admitted to the steam cylinder, and through the train of mechanism causing the beam K to again descend, the first plunger is moved downwardly a slight distance where it is retained by the teeth of its retaining devices v Then as the cylinder exhausts, the carriage is moved upwardly and over the teeth of the first plunger by the beam, K and to the left and in engagement with the teeth of the second plunger, by means of the rack 0 and its operating mechanism. The carriage N moves thus across the entire series of plungers, operating on one, then moving to the next, until the pin 0 trips the double pawl 0 and causes said pawl to operate in the reverse direction. Then the carriage moves toward the right acting on each plunger successively until the double pawl 0* is again tripped by the vertical projection 0 .on the end of the rack 0, when the mechanism will be again reversed. This operation continues until the bale is gradually and completely pressed.

After the bale has been condensed to a desired degree, bale bands may be placed around the same in any suitable manner and the shafts S are operated to release the retaining devices 7' and allow the weights 8 to raise the plungers. The bale box is then swung on its pivot F and a new bale brought beneath the plungers for compression.

NVhile'I have shown and described my improved method and construction for the pressing of cotton, it will be obvious that the same might be used for compressing hay, rags, dry goods, paper, fodder, earths, cement, peat briquets, coal, and other materials or for any purpose where the density of the mass is to be increased. In other words my method and device is for applying a large amount of pressure in small units.

It will be understood that while I have shown my improved press as having thirteen plungers, this specific number is not essential but any number over one may be used, as two would divide the power necessary to operate the mechanism.

It will also be noted that in my preferred construction I leave a slight space between adjacent plungers, which prevents shearing of the material during compression.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patentis 1. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of means for compressing said material, means for moving said compressing means toward and nearer to the abutment during each cycle of operation, and means for retaining said compressing means on means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungersfor compressing sald ma- .terial, means for moving said plungers to Ward and nearer to the abutment during each cycle of operation, and means for retaining said plungers on their compression stroke. r

4. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers for com- I pressing said material, means for operating said plungers, and means for retaining said plungers on their. compresison stroke, said retaining means being independent of the operating means. I

5. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for support ing the material to be compressed, a plurality of means for compressing sald ma-' terial, and means for moving said compressing means toward and nearer tothe'iabutment during each cycle of operation and consecutively over the pressing area 01": the material undergoing pressure.

-6. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of means for compressing said material, means for moving said compressing means toward and nearer to the abutment, during each cycle of operation and consecutively over the pressing area of the material undergoing pressure, and means for retaining said compressing means on their compression stroke;

7. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressecha plurality of means for compressing said material, means for operating said coi'npressing means consecutively over the pressing area of the material undergo ing pressure, and means for retaining said compressing means on their compression stroke, said retaining means being independent of the operating means.

8. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality oi plungers for compressing said material, and means for moving said plungers toward and nearer to the abutment during each cycle of operation and, consecutively over the pressing area of the material undergoing pressure.

9. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers for compressing said material, meansfor moving said plungers to-' Ward and nearer to the abutment during each cycleoif operation and, consecutively pressing said material, means for operating said compressing means consecutively and lntermittently' a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said compressing 'means, on their compression stroke, said retaining means being independent of the operating means.

12. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for support ing the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers for compressing said material, and means -for moving said plungers consecutively and intermittently a predetermined distance, toward and nearerto the abutment.

I 18. 'A compressing apparatuscomprising means'including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers for compressing said material, means for moving said plungers consecutively and intermittently a predetermined distance toward and nearer to the abutment. during each cycle of operation, and means for retaining said plungers on their compression stroke. v

14. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers for compressing said material, means for operating said plungers consecutively and intermit tently a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said plungers on their compression stroke, said retaining means being independent of the operating means.

15. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for support ing the material to be compressed, means for compressing said material, means for moving said compressing means consecutively and intermittently, a predetermined distance toward and nearer to the abutment during each cycle of operation, and means for actuating the operating means.

16. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, means for compressing said material, and a single means for intermittently engaging each of said compressing means for moving the same a predetermined dis tance.

17. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, plunger-s for compressing said material, and a single means :for intermittently engaging each of said plunger-s for moving the same a predetermined distance.

18. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, means for compressing said ma-' terial, a single means for intermittently engaging each of said compressing means for moving the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining the compressing means on their compression stroke.

19. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting tlie"inateiial tobe compressed, means for compressing saidmaterial, means for intermittently engaging each of said compressing means for moving the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining the compressing means on their compression stroke, said retaining means being independent of the operating means.

20. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, plungers for compressing the material, a single means for intermittently engaging each of said plungers for moving the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said plunger-s on their compression stroke; a

21. A compressing apparatus comprising n'ieans for supporting the material to be compressed, plungers for compressing the material, means for intermittently engaging each of said plungers for moving the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said plungers, on their compres sion stroke, said retaining means being in dependent of the operating means.

252. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a single means for consecutively engaging and depressing each of said plungers a predetermined distance during one cycle of op cration of the press, and means for reversing said operating means whereby the same will consecutively engage and depress each of the plungers a predetermined distance during its return movement.

A compressingapparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a carriage provided with means for engaging said plungers, and means for moving said carriage to cause the same to consecutively and intermittently engage said plungers.

2 1. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a carriage provided With means for engaging said plungers, and means for moving said carriage vertically and horizontally to cause the same to consecutively and intermittently engage said plungers and move the same a predetermined distance.

25. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a carriage provided With means for engaging said plungers, means for moving said carriage to cause the same to consecutively and intermittently engage said plungers and move the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said plungers in the position to Which they have been moved.

26. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a carriage provided With means for engaging said plungers, means for moving said carriage to cause the same to consecutively and intermittently engage said plunger-s and move the same a predetermined distance, and means for retaining said plunger-s in the position to Which they have been moved, said retaining means being independent of the carriage.

2'7. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers, a track, a carriage movable upon said track and provided With means for engaging said plungers, means for reciprocating said track to cause the carriage to depress the plungers a predetermined distance, and means for mov ing said carriage along said track to engage consecutive plungers.

28. A compressing apparatus comprising means tor supporting the materlal to be compressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a vertically movable beam provided with a track, a carriage mounted upon said track and movable longitudinally of said beam, said carriage being provided With means for engaging said plungers, means for reciprocating said beam vertically to cause the carriage to depress the plungers, and means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement With successive plungers.

29. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate With the same to compress the material, a track mounted. for vertical movement, a carriage movable longitudinally of said track and provided With means for en gaging said plungers, means for reciprocating said track vertically to cause the carriage to depress the, plungers, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers," and means for retaining said plungers in their depressed position. i

30. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate with the same to compress thematerial, a track mounted for vertlcal movement, a carriage movable longitudinally of said track and provided with means for engaging said plungers, means for reciprocating said track vertically to cause the carriage to depress the plungers, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plunger-s, and means for retaining said plungers in their depressed position, said retaining means being independent of said carriage.

31. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be com pressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage mounted on said track and provided with spring pressed pawls for en-.

gaging said plungers, means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to depress said plungers, and means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers.

32. A compressing apparatus comprising means for-supporting the material to .be compressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the ma terial, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage mounted on said track and provided with spring pressed pawls for engaging said plungers, means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to depress said plungers, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers,and means I for retaining said plungers in their depressed position.

33. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage mounted on said track and provided with spring pressed pawls for engaging said'plungers, meansfor reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to depress said plungers, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers, and means for retaining said plungers in their depressed position, said retaining means being independent of said pawls.

34. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be com- 6 -pressed, a plurality of plungers provided I with teeth and adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage frame mounted upon said track and being provided with bearings, pawls slidingly car- .sion of the springs when the carriage is moved, upwardly and permit the pawls to ride over said plunger teeth, and means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plunger teeth.

35. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the materialto be compressed, a plurality of plungers provided with teeth and adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage frame mounted upon said track and being provided with bearings, pawls slidingly carried by said bearings,springs provided be tween sald pawls and said frame, said pawls being adapted to engage said plunger teeth, means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to engage the teeth of the plu'ngers and depress said plungers when the track moves downwardly, said pawls being adapted to move inwardly against the tension of the springs when the carriage is 'lIlOVQfl upwardly and permit the pawls to ride over said plunger teeth, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers, and means for retaining said plungers in their depressed position.

36. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to beconr s pressed, a plurality of plungers provided with teeth and adapted to cooperate with i the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage frame mounted upon said track and being provided with bearings, pawls slidingly carried by said bearings, springs provided between said pawls and said frame, said pawls being adapted to engage said plunger teeth,

means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to engage the teeth of the plungers and depress said plungers when the track moves downwardly said pawls being adapted to move'inwardly against the tension of the springs when the carriage is moved upwardly and permit the pawls to ride over said plunger teeth, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers, and

means for retaining said plunger-sin their depressed position, said retaining means being independent of said pawls.

37. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of plungers provided with teeth and adapted to cooperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage frame mounted upon said track and being provided with bearings, pawls slidingly carried by said bearings, springs providedbetween said pawls and said frame, said pawls being adapted to engage said plunger teeth, means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the pawls to engage the teeth of the plungers and depress said plungers when the track moves downwardly, said pawls being adapted to move inwardly against the tension of the springs when the carriage is moved upwardly and Permit the pawls to ride over said plunger teeth, means for moving said carriage along said track for engagement with successive plungers, and means for reversing the direction of said carriage. I

38. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, a pluralityof plungers adapted to coiiperate with the same to compress the material, a track mounted for vertical movement, a carriage mounted upon said track and provided with means for engaging said plungers, means for reciprocating the track vertically to cause the carnage to depress said plungers, a rack connected to said carriage, and means for moving said rack intermittently to cause the carriage to engage successive plungers. V c

39. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of beams provided in said frame, a plurality of shafts extending between said beams, a bell crank lever mounted upon each of said shafts, a link connecting said bell crank levers for joint movement, a bar pivotally connected to each of said bell crank levers, a track carried by said bars, means for rocking one of said bell crank levers to cause the track to be reciprocated, a carriage mounted upon said track, a plurality of plungers. carried by said frame, means provided upon said carriage for engagement with said plungers to depress the same when the track is reciprocated, and means for moving said carriage along said track to cause the same tocengage successive plungers. v a

40. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of beams provided in said frame, a plurality of shafts extending between said beams, a bell crank levermounted upon each of said shafts, a link connecting said bell crank levers for joint movement, a bar pivotally connected to each of said bell crank levers, a track carried by said bars, means for rocking one of said bell crank levers to cause the track to be reciprocated, a carriage mounted upon said track, a plurality of plungers carried by said frame, means provided upon said carriage for engagement with said plungers to depress the same when the track is reciprocated, means for moving said carriage along said track to cause the same to engage successive plungers, and means for retaming said plungers in their depressed position.

41. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality, of beams provided in said frame, a plurality of shafts extending between said beams, a bell crank lever mounted upon each of said shafts, a link connecting said bell crank levers for joint movement, a bar pivotally connected to each of said bell crank levers, a track carried by said bars, means for rocking one of said bell crank levers to cause the track to be reciprocated, a carriage mounted upon said track, a plurality of plungers carried by said frame, means provided upon said carriage for engagement with said plungers to depress the same when the track is reciprocated, means for moving said carriage along said track to cause the same to engage successive plungers, and means for retaining said plungers in their depressed position, said retaining means being independent of said carriage.

42. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of parallel beams pro vided in said frame, a plurality of plungers carried by said beams, a track mounted for vertical movement in said frame, a carriage mounted upon said track and provided with means for engaging said plungers, a gear carried by said beams, a rack meshing with said gear and connected with said carriage, means for reciprocating said track to cause the carriage to depress the plungers, and means for rotating said gear upon one stroke of said track, whereby said carriage is moved along said track for engagement with successive plungers.

43. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of plungers carried by said frame and provided with teeth, a track mountedin said frame for vertical movement, a carriage mounted upon said track and provided with means for engaging said plunger teeth, means for reciprocating said track to cause said carriage to depress the plungers, means for moving said carriage along said tracks for engagement with successive plungers, and spring pressed pawls mounted in said frame and adapted to engage said plunger teeth to hold said plungers in depressed position.

4A. A compressing apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of plungers carried by said frame and provided with teeth, a track mounted in said frame for vertical move, ment, a carriage mounted upon said track and provided with means for engaging said plunger teeth, means for reciprocating said track to cause said carriage to depress the vlun ers means for movin said carria e h 7 b t) mounted in said frame for vertical movement, a carriage mounted upon said track and provided with means for engaging said plunger teeth, means for reciprocating said track to cause said carriage to depress the plunger-s, means for moving said carriage along said tracks for engagement with successive p n s pring" P essed p Wls mounted in said frame and adapted to engage said plungerteeth to hold said 1 1 1 gers in depressed position, means for releasing said pawls to'disengage them from the plunger teeth, and means for raising said plungers. I I

46. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supportingthe material to be compressed, a plurality of means for compressing said material in sections or units of the pressing area upon whichjsaid means operate, and means for retaining said compressing means against the compression face of the material continuously throughout the compression operation,

The mbin ion wit a pit ype baling press, ofmeansfor locking the platen of e p es up n the upper sur ace f the, pit, said locking comprising a plu-- r'ality of keepers provided upon said platen, a bolt slidingly' mounted in said keepers, and ans f i Op t n a d b l sisting in first confining all the material to be pressed, sald material having a ma or pressing ar a divided, into a se i scf m o p ssin r as, ap ly n P e ur t0 the minor areas c l secutively, and retaining the d n ity obtained thereby as appl ed to ac minor area independent of the pressing, force. i

49. A method of compressing which consists in first, confining all the material to be P e s apply ng P es ur in' s to the pressing area'of the material, each of said units be n app i d d penden ly f. adia. cent units retaining the pressure as applied o ach un depe d n y h Pr s n force, nd. he apnli at on o pe manent r taining means when the desired degree of compressing has been reached. I

50. A method of compressing which consists in first confining all the material to be pressed, then applying pressing units consecutively to parts of the pressing area of the material, each of the pressing units operating independently of adjacent units upon the difierentparts of the pressing area and compressing the material a predetermined amount, retaining. the density obtained thereby as applied to each minor area independently of the pressing force, and continuing the operation of the pressing units back and fojrth over the pressing area until a desired density is obtained.

51. A compressing apparatus comprising means for supporting the material to be compressed, means for compressing said ma terial in bull; and means for further compressing t e material, said last named means exerting pressure successively and consecutively upon the pressing area of the material: in sections or units.

5,2. A compressing apparatus comprising .means for supporting the material to be .90

compresssdl means for compressing said material in bulk, mans for retaining the density so obtained, and means for further com pr s ing thema a said ast name m s operating to apply pressure successively and consecutively on sections or units of the pressing area of the material.

5.3. compressing apparatuscomprising means for confining the material ,to be compressed, a single plunger for compressing said material in bulk, means for retaining the density thus obtained," and means for further compressing the material, said last successively and consecutively on sections or units ofv theopressing area of the material. J 5s. The combinationwith a Compressing apparatus having a singleplunger for compressing material inbulk, of a plurality of na ed m ans p ati g o appl P u .plungers for applyingpressnre successively v 7 v and consecut vely on units or sections of 48. A method of applymg pressure con-' the pressing area of the material for further compressing the same.

55,. The herein described process of applying pressure which consists in confining 5 the material to be compressed, applying presspre to the material in bulk and compressing the same, then applying pressure on; units 0f the. pressing area of said ma- 57. The herein described process of applying pressure, which consists in confining the material to be compressed in a chamber which includes a movable abutment, applying pressure to said material in bulk by said abutment and then applying pressure on units of the surface of said material for further compression.

58. The herein described process of applying pressure, which consists in confining the material to be compressed in a chamber which includes an abutment, applying pressure on units of the pressing area of said material, and forcing said units a predetermined distance toward the abutment, retaining the density gained thereby and again applying pressure on units of the pressing area of said material and forcing said units farther toward said abutment.

59. The herein described process of applying pressure, which consists in supporting the material to be compressed, applying pressure successively to separate portions of the pressing area of said material and con-' (lensing the material a predetermined amount, retaining the density gained thereby, and again applying pressure to said pressing area to further condense the material.

60. A compressing apparatus comprising means including an abutment for supporting the material to be compressed, a plurality of means for compressing said maplying pressure, which consists in confining all the material. to be compressed by means including an abutment, applying pressure on sections of the pressing area of said material and forcing said sections separately toward and nearer the abutment, and retaining the density obtained thereby in each of said sections throughout the compressing operation.

62. The herein described process of applying pressure which consists in confining all the material to be compressed by means including an abutment, applying pressure on sections of the pressing area of said material and forcing said sections separately toward and nearer the abutment, and retaining the density obtained thereby in each of said sections.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES N. WOOD.

Witnesses:

J. K. Moons, R. E. BARRY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patentm- Washington, D. G. 

